Castleton Brass is looking to score a hat trick by winning a third trophy this year, when we compete in the 4th Section of the Finals of The National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at Cheltenham on Saturday 19th September. The band, a registered charity, is based in Eye. Our members include several young people who have not had the opportunity to participate in the National Finals before.

In March the band participated at the regional contest at Stevenage competing against bands from Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridge, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Sussex. The band’s second place resulted in an invitation to the National Finals and trophy number one.

In May the band competed at the East Anglian Brass Band Association’s contest in Norwich and won their section and trophy number two.

Will there be trophy number three? Maybe.

Band Chairman, Christine Wade said, “We are absolutely delighted to be participating in the Finals. We have been working since March to raise funds to enable us to compete.”

The band is very grateful to Guy McGregor who has given a grant from his locality budget towards the cost of the coach and also to Eye Town Council for a grant but we still need to raise funds. The band has launched a ‘Sponsor a Player’ initiative (there are twenty five brass musicians, three percussionists and a musical director). Businesses and individuals are invited to sponsor a musician for £50.00. Anyone interested should email info@castletonbrass.org.uk to discuss which instrument and position they would like to sponsor.

All donations and sponsorship will be acknowledged on our website.

The band will be competing against eighteen other bands in the 4th section National Finals.

Castleton Brass performs concerts and events throughout Suffolk.

The latest edition of the Suffolk Magazine includes a feature on the band.

Photos by permission of EADT Suffolk Magazine